Stars GM hopes to extend Pavelski before trade deadline

One of the best players mentioned in trade deadline rumors may not become available after all.

Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill said he hopes to sign pending unrestricted free-agent forward Joe Pavelski to an extension.

"That's what I hope," Nill told The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun. "I want to see where Joe is at. We got to look at our cap situation, too. And I think he'll have some questions he'll want answered. We'll have some questions. But my mindset is that we want to bring him back. He's been a great fit for us. He's a big part of our community and our team.

"We'll sit down and discuss that."

Pavelski is in the final season of a three-year, $21-million contract he signed as a UFA with Dallas in 2019. The 37-year-old continues to age like a fine wine, leading the Stars with 53 points in 49 games this season.

The Stars sit fifth in the Central Division and ninth in the Western Conference in points percentage. Their play over the next month will likely determine Nill's approach at the March 21 trade deadline.

"We just had our meetings and we went through all those scenarios," Nill said. "We're prepared for that. We've walked through all those scenarios. It might come down to that last week where we have to make some tough calls."

In addition to Pavelski, Dallas' notable pending UFAs include defenseman John Klingberg, forward Alexander Radulov, and goaltender Braden Holtby.

The Stars project to have roughly $28 million in cap space for next season, per CapFriendly, with restricted free agents Denis Gurianov and Jake Oettinger due for raises.